Ski binding



' F. BEIER SKI BINDING March 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1966 March 26,1968 I MEIER 3,375,017

SKI BINDING w Filed" Nov 22, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 United States Patent 3,375,017 SKI BINDING Friedrich Beier, Gratschenwin kelweg 25, Kurort Igls, Tirol, Austria Filed Nov. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 596,322 Claims priority, application Austria, Nov. 26, 1965,

4 Claims. (Cl. 280-1 1.35)

The invention relates 'to a ski binding and especially to an improvement of the type of ski binding as described in Patent No. 3,170,702 of the inventor Friedrich Beier.

The ski binding according to the above-mentioned art especially responds to stresses when the skier falls ahead; the ski binding as described does not likewise respond to torsional stresses.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a binding which not only responds to stresses when falling ahead, but also responds to torsional stresses and, in case of too strong torsional stresses, releases the boot of the skier.

In the following specification and in the designs attached thereto an embodiment of the invention is described which succeeds in solving the problem.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken side elevation of a ski binding according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of said ski binding;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation, partially broken, of another ski binding according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of said ski binding; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional View on line VV of FIG. 3.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 the toe rest 2 is fixedly secured to the front middle part of the ski 1 by means of screws at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ski. The face 3 receiving the boot toe has a recess and is limited at the top by the projecting edge 4. A slightly inclined heel plate 5 screwed on the ski serves as support for the boot heel; the guiding plate and the clamping jaw are arranged behind this plate.

The heel rest 5 is provided with an adjustable, fixed connected with the ski and it is suitable to use a mounting plate 5'; the connection of the latter with the heel rest 5 is obtained by means of a gear coupling which is fixed by means of screws.

The clamping jaw 6 is tiltable around the axis 7 and is supported at the guiding plate 8. In the present embodiment the guiding plate 8 is provided with a slotted hole 9 which receives the screw bolt 10 mounted to the ski 1, i.e. to the mounting plate 5'. There is a certain clearance between the bolt 10 and the slotted hole 9 in such manner that the guiding plate 8 can be displaced relative to the ski and can be swung up in a plane parallel to the running surface. The front end of the clamping jaw 6 is provided with a heel bow 11 following the bow of the boot heel.

In front of the toe rest a clamping lever 13 is screwed on in a known manner, the latter being connected with a spring 14 and a steel-cable 15, said steel-cable extending rearwards to the clamping jaw 6. The length of the cable 15 is adjusted by means of a single screw 19; thus any desired amount of the stress acting on the boot heel by means of the clamping jaw can be adjusted, if the clamping lever is locked. This cable runs below the heel rest 5 and the toe rest 2 and below the sole plate 16 in such manner that the three parts mentioned form a guide for the cable. A spring 18 actuated by the cable 15 is braced against the heel rest 5. The cable 15 is secured to the middle of the clamping jaw.

The cable nipple 12 fixedly connected with the cable 15 is provided at the back end of the cable. Recesses 12 permit an adjustment of the point of application of the cable 15 on the clamping jaw 6.

The drawings enclosed show the open binding. When the ski is fastened, the boot is first put into the binding in such manner that the boot toe abuts against the toe rest 2 and the boot heel rests on the heel rest 5. When the clamping lever 13 is tightened by tilting the lever forwards, the guiding 'plate 8 with the clamping jaw 6 is drawn forwards by means of the cable 15, the clamping jaw 6 is simultaneously tilted downwards around the axis 7 and thus the heel bow 11 is urged :against the boot. The force acting obliquely forwards and downwards can be divided into two components from which one urges the boot against the toe rest 2 and the other urges the boot on the heel rest 5. By means of the clamping lever the clamping jaw 6 is pressed down against the action of the spring 18.

When the binding is unfastened, it is merely necessary to open the clamping lever 13. The accumulated force of the spring 18 turns the clamping jaw 6 from the boot, thus releasing the clamping jaw.

The embodiment described shows that the fastening as well as the unfastening of the ski is very simple. It is not necessary to engage the cable into a low-traction hook nor to draw a spring over the boot heel. Few screws are suflicient to mount the binding. A freezing of the movable parts is practically impossible. Lugs receiving safety thongs can be provided on the heel bow 11 in order to prevent the gliding away of the ski which might release from the boot in case of bad falls.

In case of a bad fall which might result in a distortion of the skiers leg, the clamping jaw can tilt around the axis of the bolt 10, thus releasing the boot from the binding. As the guiding plate 8 is turned to the heel rest 5, the turning radius which is given by the normal distance of the heel bow 11 from the axis of the bolt 10, is relatively small; thus the releasing of the boot is guaranteed.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 5, the front part of the ski binding is formed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rear part partially corresponds to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIGS. 3 to 5, however, the guiding plate 8 glides in the guiding rail 20, said guiding rail 20 being pivotally secured to the ski around the axis of the screw bolt 21 by means of a screw bolt 21. 22 is a shim.

In any case the important and characteristic feature with regard to the features of the ski binding according to the Patent No. 3,170,702 is that the guiding plate is pivotally secured to the ski in a plane which is, at least approximately, parallel to the running surface of the ski; thus, in case of falls with mainly torsional stresses of the foot, the clamping jaw is capable of turning aside and the boot is released at the back.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

-What I claim is:

1. A ski having a longitudinal axis and comprising a fixedly supported toe rest, a clamping lever pivotally supported forwardly of said toe rest, a fixed heel rest rearwardly of said toe rest and adapted to support the heel of the boot with the toe of the latter in contact with the toe rest, a guiding plate supported for free longitudinal displacement rearwardly of said heel rest, a clamping jaw supported on said guiding plate for pivotal movement towards and away from said heel rest for contacting the heel of a boot supported thereon, said clamping jaw having an initial position inclined upwardly and forwardly on said ski, a cable extending from said clamping lever to said clamping jaw for pivotally moving the latter and concurrently displacing the guiding plate upon pivotal movement of the clamping lever, said cable passing'under the toe rest and heel rest and then passing beyond the heel rest directly to the clamping jaw along a substantially straight line, said cable being secured to the clamping jaw, and a spring to exert a force on the clamping jaw to displace the same away from said heel rest when the clamping lever is pivotally moved; said guiding plate, apart from said free longitudinally displacement, being also supported for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the running surface of the ski.

2. A ski as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding plate is provided with a recess in its longitudinal axis, a bolt connected with the ski protruding through said recess.

3. A ski as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1965 Beier 280-11.35

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,350,289 12/ 1963 France.

264,002 12/ 1949 Switzerland. 295,705 3/ 1954 Switzerland.

RICHARD J. JOHNSON, Primary Examiner.

M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

